In this last month I made pleasant stays in places not too far away but different from each other: Sestri Levante, Montecreto and Kojsko (Slovenia) and I had the confirmation of an attitude of us Italians that distinguishes us, that is to be "cool" (not a bad thing, keep reading).
Article featured on 365mountainbike Magazine - May 2015
In Slovenia this situation became very clear when we climbed to the top of a peak on the border with Italy (just outside Trieste): imagine a 7 / 8km climb, easily pedaled, which leads to over 1000m in height with a splendid scenery and a nice refuge at the end of the climb. Ideal situation to take the bike on the weekend, get on, eat something and come back.
Well, I've seen some bikes that define as a supermarket is a compliment: Pininfarina (do you remember the all-green MTB for sale with ESSO points?), 7-speed mountain bikes and so on and so forth. Riding these bikes there were only Slovenian bikers while the few Italians we saw were riding highly respectable vehicles. We Italians think about it before venturing on such a difference in height, or practicing sports, with such bikes: either we have a discreet / well-pulled bike or otherwise we stay at home. This fact, however, is not really a big flaw since I too would think about it 1000 times before throwing myself downhill with a rigid Pininfarina, both for safety and for fun ... and then, let me tell you, a bit of style is needed in bikes! The comment of the Slovenian MTB instructor who accompanied us is eloquent: “Many Italians see them on Hardtail from € 2000 upwards and then often get off the forest road without venturing into the more technical trails. You are cool! " Fortunately, there are exceptions to the rule.
Another fact is the trip defined as 'very technical' by a Slovenian biker who literally took us down a cliff: a classic mountaineering path but to be done on foot, with 90 ° hairpins on stone and maybe even a drop on the side to season the everything. I did more than half of it on foot, also because I didn't have the Dolomity Emergency card with me yet and so if the helicopter rescue arrived I would have to pay for the recovery (joking…). The badass biker's name was Zlatko Sofric and looking for his name on the internet you can't find any information !! In various of my trips I have never seen an athlete so good (and crazy) on a path that would have made more than one PRO go down. Yet he is happy like this, he rides his bike and has fun, without taking pictures, without tagging himself on Instagram ... in Italy someone with a similar driving technique would surely have thousands of videos, website, twitter account, facebook page, google + profile and Instagram ! (but also with full right I add). But he didn't, to find out who he was we had to ask friends about him. The image below is eloquent and I tell you that the guy in question managed to close the curve riding his MTB !! Science fiction! And since we're here ... happy EASTER!
